Quote Originally Posted by Gandalf View Post
"In the end there is no master plan, we just tell ourselves there is to make ourselves feel better. Life. Now. The Present. That is what is important. Not some future reward or punishment."

Good philosophy, though I would stress a little moderation too. Too much of a good thing in the now can mean nothing in the well for tomorrow and that can be a pit of despair too and often an early death. Even politics is all about the now....but what about unfunded liabilities? A little forward thinking is always good. Live today, but think about your future a bit, and try to come to terms with your past the best you can is how I try to approach it, but there is no right and wrong in this tiny speck of forever that we are. If devices such as God help some, then fair enough I say. It doesn't make sense to my way of thinking, but I guess we all find our own ways and Pratchett seems to have done it his way and good for him.

I haven't read any of his books, but know of him and that he made a difference is of course a good thing. Nothing against fantasy myself and I often regard this reality as a kind of fantasy with the absurd things going on constantly. What would you say his best works are?
When I said "Not some future reward and punishment" I was referring to the afterlife. So NOW refers to life on earth as humans.
Where to start ? Remember it's entertainment. It's witty and intelligent but don't go in expecting Satre or John Updike. If you like Douglas Adams, Robert Rankin etc you should love it

Good Omens (with Neil Gaiman) - An angel and a demon try to save the world from an apocalypse.

Mort - DEATH takes on an apprentice

Small Gods - Pratchett takes a healthy skeptical swipe at religion

Nation - Survivors of a devastating tsunami wave band together on an island called Nation (it's for younger readers but lovely none the less)

Guards!Guards! - dragons, secret brotherhoods and the introduction of Sam Vimes, firm believer in social justice and the value of old boots

The discworld series starts with The Colour of Magic but it's not his best work and the later books move away from it. You may love it but I would leave that until you have tried one of the five above.